Oliver Sirrell Joins Formula Renault BARC

Oliver Sirrell has become the latest driver to announce his participation in the 2012 Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship.

After starting his career in bike racing, taking podiums and wins on a Honda RS 125, Sirrell moved into car racing in an ex-Dan Wheldon Van Diemen. Last season was his most successful to date, Sirrell winning the 750 MCC Formula 4 Class Championship.

As well as this, he also drove a club F3 Dallara at Spa-Francorchamps, standing in for his future father-in-law. Sirrell overcame a lack of experience of the car and track to finish a credible 14th, ahead of higher spec MSV F3 and Austrian F3 cars.

At the end of 2011, Sirrell tested a Formula Renault UK car with Manor Motorsport at Snetterton. Now, with backing from LM Installations Ltd and ACS Ltd, Sirrell is moving into Renault BARC and will be running his own car.

Sirrell said: “I have decided to make the move to BARC Formula Renault following my test with Manor. I always like to be challenged in all aspects of what I do and now feel it’s time to move to the highly competitive series of BARC Renault, as that’s as far as I can reach with funds available.

“My aims for this season are of course to win but realistically I aim to be on the podium before the season finishes, maybe a tall order for the first year but I won’t know how it will go until my first test day in the car on the 9th February at Snetterton.”